Daily Painters of Texas: teaching lessons

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White Tulips on Teal is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio this week - I found two bunches of beautiful white tulips in the bargain bin at the market a few days ago. I snipped and clipped and fed and refrigerated and held my breath that they would survive more than a day. They are on Day 3! Just goes to show you can find treasures if you look carefully! I've been running full steam ahead preparing for my workshop this weekend in North Texas, I've got my new apron packed, my special $1.50 brush (I just use one!) and all my favorite colors. I have my prizes packed, too - we always have prizes! I've decided to give away something different than anything I've ever awarded before - stay tuned to my art bloggy to hear what the winner will receive!

Friday, April 19, 2013

SOLD ~ Coronado Island Sunset Arbor and the 88th Annual Flower Show by Nancy Medina

Coronado Island Sunset Arbor

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Coronado Island Sunset Arbor is almost as much a watercolor application of oils as it is a traditional oil painting. I love experimenting with transparent paints, and staining my canvas in blocks of light, color and shape. Letting those transparent paints shine through, without covering them, can give your painting a feeling of depth.

Tomorrow I fly to one of the most beautiful places in California, Coronado Island. Rest assured my camera battery is charging, and I've got my comfy walking shoes packed - first things first, we stop somewhere for excellent fish tacos, then grab our flower show map to start tracking down and photographing all the top award winning gardens and cottages. The 88th Annual Flower Show will be in full swing in Spreckles Park, and I'll have a whole day before my solo show at the gallery begins. I hope to see you there!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Summerfield Indian Paintbrush and a Texas Landscape Class by Nancy Medina

Summerfield Indian Paintbrush

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

16X20

Oil on Archival Panel

Summerfield Indian Paintbrush was my class demonstration this morning for my workshop in North Texas. A group of very talented ladies made spring blossoms happen in hopes that winter has left us, while we enjoyed a plethora of desserts and snacks, donuts, a strawberry concoction that was so delicious I hope I never get the recipe lest I gain 100 pounds, and some well meaning soul even brought healthy fruit wedges! My shattering devotion to the donut was undeterred, however, and I'm proud to say I had three. And another after class I had secretly sequestered into my carry bag. At this rate, it should be interesting to see how long before I go up another pant size...

We are definitely ready for spring in the Texas Hill Country!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Blue Ascent Hydrangeas by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Blue Ascent Hydrangeas

by Nancy Medina

16X20

Oil on Archival Panel

Blue Ascent Hydrangeas is the newest painting as my hydrangeas are almost finished blooming. It's been a busy day, staying with mom and so happy she has had several good days in a row. I tried an experiment this afternoon I had seen on youtube, where you can take a fading hydrangea, cut a slice down the side of its stem, and place it in super hot water to push it back to full bloom. I was amazed it worked! I'll share the photos with you tomorrow, after I've had a bit of sleep!

Blue Ascent with the studio models!

Monday, February 18, 2013

SOLD ~ Butterfly Iris Garden by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Butterfly Iris Garden

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Butterfly Iris Garden is a scene from my garden last spring, and a wish for these flowers to hurry up and bloom again! We splurged last summer and had iris and hydrangea gardens installed along the shady side of the yard, and the bulbs we purchased in the spring from Argyle Acres Iris Garden are a mixture of colors and types. Some of these lovelies are double bloomers, meaning we had irises both in the spring and the fall last year. I'll be teaching a landscape class in Mesquite, Texas on Friday, so I've been going through my library of floral photos to find just the right theme for my students. I'm loving the tulips of the Dallas Arboretum from 2012, but we may end up with irises on our easels!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Heartfelt Glads and White Hydrangeas by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Heartfelt Glads and White Hydrangeas

by Nancy Medina

Class Demonstration

16X20

Oil on Archival Panel

Heartfelt Glads and White Hydrangeas was my class demonstration this morning for my 2-day Valentine's weekend workshop in Irving, Texas. When I woke up this morning, I thought to myself:

I Love My Job

Painting bright colors with a class full of happy students, choosing from dozens of fresh flowers in all my favorite shapes and sizes, and dipping into a box of double glazed fresh donuts each day. What's not to like about teaching flower painting?

My 2-day workshops are smaller, and more focused on the individual student, ideal for the beginner or for those getting back into painting after time away or crossing over from a different medium. I've opened a new 2-day workshop at the Jaycee Parks Center for the Arts May 17-18. Take a peek at some new photos of my uber talented students from my workshop today, and let me know what you've been wishing you could paint - I'm opening workshops in venues across the US - contact me if you have a location and let's get together and make flowers bloom soon!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Hearts Path Orange Tulips of the Dallas Arboretum by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Hearts Path Orange Tulips

of the Dallas Arboretum

by Nancy Medina

16X12

Textured Palette Knife/

Oil on Archival Panel